WIW..1989 Ramcharger

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gzig5

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There is a 89 Ramcharger available locally and my 15yr old son is interested in it. 150k miles, 318 tbi automatic 2wd. Interior is decent but worn, a little rust behind wheel wells but I haven’t looked under it yet. It is probably a bit crusty after 30 years in Wisconsin. Going to meet the guy tomorrow and take it for a drive and look under it and all that. Says it runs drives and stops. He’s asking 3700 but thinks it is over priced at that and is looking for offers. Might make a nice project for us. What say you? Don’t want to insult him but I’m not going over three grand for sure

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I would't pay that for a 2wd. At best, it is a parts truck for a 4wd version. Just my opinion - I had an '85 for a few years and loved it. Great in the 4wd variety.
 
Yeah, I would prefer a 4wd but a running, driving truck that I can wrench on with him that he is interested in has benefits. I'd rather he crash in this rather than a tin foil box Civic like he has been talking about. A 4" crank in the 318 should move it around pretty good if we get that far. Still looking for help on a number. Everything I've found online is not close to this.
 
Start at 2K, look for undrcarage rust, basically things that can't be found in a wrecking yard /, online or bolted on.
 
Best tow truck I ever had.
I would do another one and roll a 2000 ish Cummings under it and have the best of both worlds.
 
If you spend 3K on it don't expect a return on investment. But take that with a grain of salt however they are not desirable in 2wd mode. At 150K the steering is going to be pretty tired.... And it won't light the world up on power. And it will have some rust. Check the cowling area especially.....

However if, and I mean "IF" your kid takes to it and wants to throw wrenches at it I can't think of a better vehicle. Easy to work on, no 4wd to worry about or hopefully not get a 2am call to pull it out the mud. I think 3k is strong money however if it's a catalyst for some Dad/son time and you want a worthy truck this is it....

JW
 
Darter6 said:
Max $2500. I hate rust..
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The little bit on the body doesn't scare me. I'm currently replacing all the body and floor panels from the firewall back on my 73 Cuda, but I don't want to deal with a rusty frame again. Suspension refresh, brakes, etc are all doable and fun with the kid. I had already bought a 2006 Sebring for him but it is pretty basic and he's not jazzed, but it was a good deal and I figured in this used car crunch I could flip it if need be.

I think if this is going to happen it would have to be under 2500.
 
gzig5 said:
The little bit on the body doesn't scare me. I'm currently replacing all the body and floor panels from the firewall back on my 73 Cuda, but I don't want to deal with a rusty frame again. Suspension refresh, brakes, etc are all doable and fun with the kid. I had already bought a 2006 Sebring for him but it is pretty basic and he's not jazzed, but it was a good deal and I figured in this used car crunch I could flip it if need be.

I think if this is going to happen it would have to be under 2500.
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I think the 2500.00 is a good number. Plan on the other 500.00 going towards who knows what.....

If it has A/C and most likely will you will probably have a pile of rotted vacuum lines on the controls... If you buy it and need that part PM me and I probably still have one in nice condition. Yours no charge if you need it....

JW
 
gzig5 said:
The little bit on the body doesn't scare me.....
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Check the bed cross members, I recall they like to rust. My '89 also popped rust just behind the door on both sides.

A blast from the past 360 tbi auto 4wd .........

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Lol, I believe I still have the FSM floating around here somewhere.
 
Daves69 said:
A blast from the past 360 tbi auto 4wd
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That would be the grail, 360/4WD. If it comes to fruition I may come for that manual. It's not terrible looking car but I need to get under it to see how high I can go. Knowing what WI did to my 98 Dakota when I moved here from CA, I wonder how there are any vehicles more than 15-20 years old still on the road.
 
I had two of these back in the early 90’s. Awesome vehicles. The prices of these have gone crazy over the last few years. 2WD hurts the price some but also makes it an easier and cheaper car to own and maintain. I put a 3” body lift on my 85, to look like a 4WD. If you can get it for $2500-3k, I’d say that’s a great deal as long as the frame and structure are solid.
 
I personally love ramchargers. On my 4th one which is an 87. I wanted a 2wd version before I got my current one, bit it was boxed in by buildings and a mobile home. Seller wanted me to move the mobile home in order to get the RC. Walked from it.
All RC have rust. I had to replace the lower 1/4's and rockers, which wasn't that bad. I think it could be a great project for the boy and fairly easy to get parts for. Its worth what you are willing to pay. I would offer a little less, but if it's complete and in great shape, well that decision is yours on what to pay. It looks nice in the pictures to me. How's the interior?
 
Had an 88 2wd Ramcharger a long time ago. Was a 360/727 4bbl, gas guzzling pig of a rust bucket. Ran ok, had around 80k miles when I got it, and plenty of power to tow, but 10 mpg empty was not a good thing. Towing my small 18ft travel trailer was more like 6 mpg. My 1990 Bronco 4x4 with the 5.0 efi is consistently in the 15mpg range around town and 18-19 hwy. I no longer have the trailer though, those numbers are running empty.
 
One thing for sure, they’ll rust to death before they’ll ever die. I traded a microwave oven for this one, which was passed around between friends for years. I plowed with it for 5 years or so, then gave it to my brother who just junked the body a month or so ago. He’s using the drivetrain in his Ramcharger.

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That's got the good '89 318

302 Closed Chamber Heads
9.2:1 compression pistons
Full floating rods
Roller Lifter Engine

Convert it back to 4bbl carb, now you have the secondaries to play with for more power and performance. Stock roller cam and all.
 
Talk him down a bit cus why not? IMO those things got expensive but i'd do 3k if it was well optioned/not rusty. between my dad and myself, we've owned about 15 ramchargers... but none in the last 12yrs+ . quarters infront and behind wheel should have been rusted out, that its not is probably because of running boards or it didn't go much in salt cus 2wd open diff?. 2wd w\suregrip absolutely will go through snow. Gas is expensive, and that 35Gallon tank goes some serious miles$. should be an a500 or a518 trans. All our 2wd had 9.25 axle and bvan 350 size front brakes. Yes they make good tow vehicles.

stupid things/negotiate list:
the ECU controlled volt meter is more than likely broke
odometer could be broke (ive had at least 7 that didn't work)
pass seat hinge is broke or tearing
headliner
r-12 AC is also fat chance

typical waterpump/timing chain/front engine seal time/tuneup/trans service/brakes gone trough/flush everything

you'll love the roof vent in the summer.
 
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